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confused by icterus blood test
I had fatty liver diagnosed 2 years ago but recently normal ultrasound results.
I am monitoring my liver enzymes regularly and my results 2 days ago are as follows:
ast: 27 (range: 17-59)
alt: 23 (range: 21-72)
ggt: 16 (range: 15-73)
alp: 73 (range: 38-126)
direct billirubine: 0.3
tota; billirubine: 1.2 (range: 0.2-1.3)
platelet count: 161 (range: 166-308)
PT INR : 1.1
my billirubine level is normal. Why is my blood called icterus (=jaundice)?
Is there something I should be worried and do further investigations?
I am monitoring my liver enzymes regularly and my results 2 days ago are as follows:
ast: 27 (range: 17-59)
alt: 23 (range: 21-72)
ggt: 16 (range: 15-73)
alp: 73 (range: 38-126)
direct billirubine: 0.3
tota; billirubine: 1.2 (range: 0.2-1.3)
platelet count: 161 (range: 166-308)
PT INR : 1.1
my billirubine level is normal. Why is my blood called icterus (=jaundice)?
Is there something I should be worried and do further investigations?
Me-just. You are fine my friend. Just wrote to you on your other question.
I honestly believe that your best ally is to keep your weight at a good number.
If I remember correctly this worrying started with being diagnosed with fatty liver. Fortunately this is something that you can change. I don't know if I've shared with you, but I am a personal trainer for the last 18 years. Instead of worrying about something that CAN be fixed, why not look at how you can
re-write the story. I will help you with that if you want me to. I would rather help you get better, then keep telling you your not sick. Both of our energy would be spent for a greater purpose.
Should we investigate? Let me know what you think.
.....Kim
I honestly believe that your best ally is to keep your weight at a good number.
If I remember correctly this worrying started with being diagnosed with fatty liver. Fortunately this is something that you can change. I don't know if I've shared with you, but I am a personal trainer for the last 18 years. Instead of worrying about something that CAN be fixed, why not look at how you can
re-write the story. I will help you with that if you want me to. I would rather help you get better, then keep telling you your not sick. Both of our energy would be spent for a greater purpose.
Should we investigate? Let me know what you think.
.....Kim
Your results are within normal range so it appears you are not sick. Your doctor is your best source of medical information and diagnosis.
What does your doctor say?
What does your doctor say?
what worries me are these:
1-) so far in my all tests my PT INR value was 1, but in my last blood test 1.1.
2-) in my last blood tests, my billirubin levels are approaching the upper bound of the normal range.
these give me the impression that my liver is worsening...
1-) so far in my all tests my PT INR value was 1, but in my last blood test 1.1.
2-) in my last blood tests, my billirubin levels are approaching the upper bound of the normal range.
these give me the impression that my liver is worsening...
Hi there, I think your platelets are fine. Where I live the range is 140 on up.
I think you have asked about this before and I wanted to send you the message that Hector wrote you back in August. He is one of our most knowledgeable members here. He is ill right now so has not been able to post.
There seems to be some misunderstanding about blood levels, normal range and their association with liver disease.
All of your blood levels you posted are within normal ranges. The exact numbers don't matter as long as they are within normal range. These normal numbers indicate normal liver function. A person can have a condition such as NAFLD or hepatitis C infection for example and still have normal blood levels. Further testing is required to assess the resulting damage to the liver caused by these conditions. Which by the way, are commonly asymptomatic conditions themselves. Therefore it is only when the liver is so damaged it begins to fail that people start to have symptoms of liver failure that they discover that they have had a condition that has severely damaged their liver gradually after many decades of injury.
All healthy people’s blood levels are constantly changing within the normal range. That is why there is a range. Not a fixed number for what is normal.
A low platelet count typically under 100,000 and low albumin levels, high bilirubin levels, high INR and creatintine levels only appear after extensive damage has been done to the liver and the liver can no longer function properly. This only occurs when a person has cirrhosis plus portal hypertension. Many of these people are on liver transplant waiting lists and are very ill because their livers are failing and they are suffering the effects of liver failure. Ascites, varices and hepatic encephalopathy to name only a few. This level of liver damage usually occurs after many decades of injury to the liver from a virus, alcohol, hereditary diseases or fatty liver disease.
A person with no liver disease, fibrosis and many times with early cirrhosis (without significant portal hypertension) will have normal blood levels, as you do. Other tests are required to measure lesser liver damage which is called fibrosis.
ALT and AST only indicate current injury to the liver. Not the amount of liver damage if any a liver has already sustained.
"What is the status of my liver? Should I be worried?"
Only a gastroenterologist or hepatologist can assess any liver disease you may have using proper testing procedures. IE, liver biopsy or fibroscan for example. See a specialist who can help you manage your fatty liver disease to prevent further damage to your liver.
Good luck.
Hector
I think you have asked about this before and I wanted to send you the message that Hector wrote you back in August. He is one of our most knowledgeable members here. He is ill right now so has not been able to post.
There seems to be some misunderstanding about blood levels, normal range and their association with liver disease.
All of your blood levels you posted are within normal ranges. The exact numbers don't matter as long as they are within normal range. These normal numbers indicate normal liver function. A person can have a condition such as NAFLD or hepatitis C infection for example and still have normal blood levels. Further testing is required to assess the resulting damage to the liver caused by these conditions. Which by the way, are commonly asymptomatic conditions themselves. Therefore it is only when the liver is so damaged it begins to fail that people start to have symptoms of liver failure that they discover that they have had a condition that has severely damaged their liver gradually after many decades of injury.
All healthy people’s blood levels are constantly changing within the normal range. That is why there is a range. Not a fixed number for what is normal.
A low platelet count typically under 100,000 and low albumin levels, high bilirubin levels, high INR and creatintine levels only appear after extensive damage has been done to the liver and the liver can no longer function properly. This only occurs when a person has cirrhosis plus portal hypertension. Many of these people are on liver transplant waiting lists and are very ill because their livers are failing and they are suffering the effects of liver failure. Ascites, varices and hepatic encephalopathy to name only a few. This level of liver damage usually occurs after many decades of injury to the liver from a virus, alcohol, hereditary diseases or fatty liver disease.
A person with no liver disease, fibrosis and many times with early cirrhosis (without significant portal hypertension) will have normal blood levels, as you do. Other tests are required to measure lesser liver damage which is called fibrosis.
ALT and AST only indicate current injury to the liver. Not the amount of liver damage if any a liver has already sustained.
"What is the status of my liver? Should I be worried?"
Only a gastroenterologist or hepatologist can assess any liver disease you may have using proper testing procedures. IE, liver biopsy or fibroscan for example. See a specialist who can help you manage your fatty liver disease to prevent further damage to your liver.
Good luck.
Hector
hello all,
i went to ask the lab and they told me they put the word icterus since
the serum sample seemed yellow. This was the explanation...
i went to ask the lab and they told me they put the word icterus since
the serum sample seemed yellow. This was the explanation...
Hi Me-just. I also reread the medical term icterus to see if there were any other slight variations on the word. Just jaundiced. I'm going to follow Lynn's lead and question could it be non-icterus? You obviously are not yellow as stated, and your bili#s look great. Must say that sometimes these Radiologists get carried away with some of their medical jargon. Perhaps it was only a mistake on their part. Again with Lynn. I would ask my Dr for his interpretation.
My best
......Kim
My best
......Kim
If you have a question you should ask you doctor to clairify. Is it possible it could have noted non icterus?
What is the lab specified range for your direct bilirubin? Your level is not high but sometimes the upper limit here is listed as 0.2. And I would never classify that as icterus, even if their max levels are at the lower level.
The word "icterus" was at the top of my blood results.
Doctor said nothing and I just realized it today.
But the billirubin levels are in the range and I do not know why I have such a word.
What does your doctor say about your results?
Your doctor is your first and best option for interpreting you lab test results as opposed to people in an Internet community group.
Your doctor is your first and best option for interpreting you lab test results as opposed to people in an Internet community group.
Sorry I do not see the word you are referring to on the report: icterus. Wher did you get that reference?
Most of the numbers you report look great to me I would love to have a liver function profile like yours.
If you were jaundiced I would expect to see much higher bilirubin levels 2.0 to 2.5
Most of the numbers you report look great to me I would love to have a liver function profile like yours.
If you were jaundiced I would expect to see much higher bilirubin levels 2.0 to 2.5
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